Pentagon says little of the equipment seen in Ferguson is military surplus

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/gateway-to-dc/pentagon-says-little-of-the-equipment-seen-in-ferguson-is/article_fd32e040-3939-5b98-a53b-1924b936efcd.html



A police sharpshooter keeps an eye on protesters along West Florissant Avenue on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2014, near the QuikTrip that was burned down a few days earlier in Ferguson.

Pentagon says little of the equipment seen in Ferguson is military surplus
19 hours ago • By Chuck Raasch

WASHINGTON • A Pentagon spokesman said today that almost all of the military-style equipment used by local law enforcement in Ferguson over the last 13 days did not come from the Department of Defense.

Most of the $4.3 billion worth of surplus equipment transferred to local law enforcement has not been tactical, but more mundane items such as furniture and communications equipment, Rear Admiral John Kirby said in a press briefing.

"Most of the stuff you are seeing in video coming out of Ferguson is not military," he said, adding: "The military is not the only source of tactical gear in this country."

~snip~

Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., said she would hold a hearing on the program in September. McCaskill issued a statement Thursday saying the hearing will "examine federal programs that enable local police departments to acquire military equipment, such as the Defense Department's 1033 program for surplus property and grants made through the Department of Homeland Security."

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Uuuuuh

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/ferguson-highlights-police-use-of-military-gear-and-tactics/article_69176ce4-f888-58ff-b33a-64924d2beb6d.html

Police officers line up across W. Florissant Avenue as they watch protesters on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2014 near the QuikTrip that was burned down a few days earlier in Ferguson.

Ferguson highlights police use of military gear and tactics
August 15, 2014 1:45 am • By Robert Patrick and Joel Currier

FERGUSON • The focus on continuing protests here turned Thursday toward paramilitary tactics and equipment that critics — even among some law enforcement leaders — say have provoked violence from the crowds.

~snip~

Writing in Time magazine, U.S. Sen. Rand Paul said scenes in Ferguson resembled “war more than traditional police action.”

Tactical officers in body armor and ballistic helmets do look far more like soldiers deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan than the police of decades ago, who often managed riots with a miner-style hard hats and wooden batons as their only special gear.

Ferguson’s tear gas may be familiar through the generations. But use of armored vehicles, a sonic blaster to disperse crowds with sound and .60-caliber rubber “Stinger” rounds for “pain compliance” are relatively new to the work.


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Pictures from Ferguson sure look like they are using military equipment.









The Boston Police Department also has an LRAD - the BPDy was towing it to a an Occupy demonstration near South Station.



This is my iconic pic of the Ferguson 'troubles':



Just like Gaza or Egypt or ........ the USA